He was Head of the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) before it folded under the command of the TFG, serving under Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale before and after the merger of forces.

On October 6, 2006, vowed to retake Kismayo after its abandonment to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), but their counterattacks at the time failed.

[6] On October 22, SomaliNet reported Gen. Ismael Fartaag was claimed to have been captured and knifed to death after the fall of the town of Bu'aale to the ICU.

[9] On November 5, there were reports of the "unlocking" (presumably, the beginning) of training of 1,300 Ahlu Suna Wal Jama'a clerics in Bardhere to fight on behalf of the JVA/TFG.

Gen. Fartaag was reported to explain, "They are volunteers attending to defend their territory from the invasion of foreigners alongside the Islamic courts.